8 Steps to Fitness: A Faith-Based, Behavior Change Physical Activity Intervention for African Americans

Abstract

Background:Physical activity (PA) participation offers many benefits especially among ethnic groups that experience health disparities. Partnering with faith-based organizations allows for a more culturally tailored approach to changing health behaviors.Methods:8 Steps to Fitness was a faith-based behavior-change intervention promoting PA among members of African American churches. A quasi-experimental design was used to examine differences between the intervention group (n=72) and comparison group (n = 74). Health (resting blood pressure, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, fasting blood glucose), psycho-social (PA self-efficacy, social support, enjoyment, self-regulation, depression), and behavioral variables (PA, diet) were assessed at baseline, 3- and 6-months. Repeated measures ANCOVAs tested changes across time between groups.Results:At 3-months, the intervention group showed significantly more favorable changes in body mass index, waist circumference and social support than the control group. At 6-months, the intervention group showed significantly more favorable changes in hip circumference, waist to hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, and depressive symptoms. There was notable attrition from both the intervention (36%) and the comparison group (58%).Conclusions:This study was conducted in a real-world setting, and provided insight into how to deliver a culturally-tailored PA intervention program for African Americans with a potential for dissemination.

The Effect of Changes in Health Beliefs Among African-American and Rural White Church Congregants Enrolled in an Obesity Intervention: A Qualitative Evaluation

“…To evaluate faith-based interventions, researchers sometimes conduct quasi-experimental [12, 13] or randomized controlled trials [14–16] to assess quantitative changes through pre-/post-intervention surveys and participant biomedical data [12–19]. However, no studies published to date have used pre-/post-intervention focus groups to evaluate nutrition and physical activity interventions.…”

The FAITH Trial: Baseline Characteristics of a Church-based Trial to Improve Blood Pressure Control in Blacks

“…37 These groups also have different dietary patterns 37 and may have different challenges and attitudes toward managing their BP. Although little examination of the health status and behaviors of these subpopulations of African descent have been done in [20][21][22][23]35,38,39 to our knowledge, FAITH is the first trial to rigorously evaluate the effect of a peer-led lifestyle intervention on BP reduction in a cohort of hypertensive Blacks. For example, some of the studies used a pre-post quasi-experimental design, and did not report baseline BP, making it difficult to determine their true impact of the intervention on BP reduction.…”

Retention of African American Women in a Lifestyle Physical Activity Program

“…At the 48-week assessment, the program had a study retention rate of 90%, which is higher than the mean study retention rate of 70% in 12 recent PA intervention studies with greater than 75% African American females at 6 and 12 months (Bopp et al, 2009; Clark, Stump, & Damush, 2003; Fitzgibbon et al, 2010; Hornbuckle et al, 2012; Newton & Perri, 2004; Parra-Medina et al, 2011; Resnicow et al, 2005; Wilbur et al, 2008; Yancey et al, 2006; Yanek et al, 2001; Young & Stewart, 2006; Zoellner et al, 2010). …”